Heart of Darkness (Green Integer Books)

Book Description

In this reprinting of the great Conrad classic, Green Integer presents his tale of white colonialism and the effects of the African world on European self-satisfaction. The tale of the search for Kurtz, who moves ever deeper into the jungles of the Congo as his madness progresses, is a brilliant symbolic tale, a great adventure story, and the subject of numerous films and commentary.

Download Description

In Conrad's haunting tale, Marlow, a seaman and wanderer, recounts his physical and psychological journey in search of the enigmatic Kurtz. Travelling to the heart of the African continent, he discovers how Kurtz has gained his position of power and influence over the local people. Marlow's struggle to fathom his experience involves him in a radical questioning of not only his own nature and values but the nature and values of his society.

Customer Reviews:

The heart of noir.......2007-09-25

This book is not only the Heart of Darkness by title but by influence it is also the "heart of noir." The mood of the book and the language itself is dense and suffocating, creating an bleak atmosphere that would inspire many film noir movies of the 40s and 50s. (This is not even to mention Apocalypse Now many years later which is not-so-loosely based on this novel, but set in a different milieu.) Consider this book the grandaddy of noir if you will. The ending is as bleak as they come, and I don't think rivaled by any of its imitators.

Also I only think it fair to mention *twice* just how dense the writing is in this book. Be prepared!

It's a wonderful experience in a brooding sort of way if you can get through it though and learn to navigate the language like the narrator navigates the jungle.

If you have to read it for class, then my condolences. Under the gun this wouldn't be that fun of a read I don't think.

An Adventure Masterpiece of Profound Depth.......2007-09-24

Note: I made some Mormon reader angry over my reviews of books written by Mormons out to prove the Book of Mormon, and that person has been slamming my reviews. This review of the "Heart of Darkness" is very good if I do say so myself.

Your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks.

Don't be put off by the word "masterpiece." The "Heart of Darkness" is a great adventure story, but so much more. You will find yourself plumbing its depths as Conrad describes a voyage up the Congo on an old steamer. Conrad's language is magnificent, and to be savored.

In modern times, Cormac McCarthy (see Blood Meridian) has recast Conrad's powerful style and made it his own. The following comparison reveals a lot about both writers.

"The Heart of Darkness," by Joseph Conrad:

"We could have fancied ourselves the first of men taking possession of an accursed inheritance, to be subdued at the cost of profound anguish and of excessive toil. But suddenly, as we struggled round a bend, there would be a glimpse of rush walls, of peaked grass-roofs, a burst of yells, a whirl of black limbs, a mass of hands clapping, of feet stamping, of bodies swaying, , of eyes rolling, under the droop of heavy and motionless foliage. The steamer toiled along slowly on the edge of a black and incomprehensible frenzy. The prehistoric man was cursing us, praying to us, welcoming us--who could tell" we were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse. We could not understand because we were too far and could not remember because we were travelling in the night of first ages, of those ages that are gone, leaving hardly a sign--and no memories."

"Blood Meridian," by Cormac McCathy:

"That night they rode through a region electric and wild where strange shapes of soft blue fire ran over the metal of the hoses' trappings and the wagonwheels rolled in hoops of fire and little shapes of pale blue light came to perch in the ears of the horses and in the beards of the men. All night sheetlightning quaked and sourceless to the west beyond the midnight thunderheads, making a bluish day of the distant desert, the mountains on the sudden skyline stark and black and lived like a land of some other order out there whose true geology was not stone but fear. The thunder moved up from the southwest and lightning lit the desert all about them, blue and barren, great clanging reaches ordered out of the absolute night like some demon kingdom summoned up or changeling land that come the day would leave them neither trace nor smoke nor ruin more than any troubling dream."

A Difficult Story of Imperial Colonialism and the Individual.......2007-08-14

It should be noted immediately that "Heart of Darkness" is not an action packed morality tale like its cinematic cousin "Apocalypse Now", but an excursion into literary techniques such as symbolism and metaphor. As a result, many high school students and English under-grads are put to task to decode Conrad's frequently splendid, but occasionally arcane, use of English. Even if you are like me, (i.e. not a big fan of heavy symbolism, who prefers more literal writing) you will still enjoy this book with a little work.

Heart of Darkness takes place sometime around the turn of the 19th Century. The story is narrated by a worldly and morally ambiguous seafarer named Marlow. Marlow tells us, in great detail, about a voyage he took up the Congo River and his observations and tribulations thereof.

*Some Spoilers Follow*

A main theme to think about is Conrad's repeated thrashing of 19th Century Imperial Colonialism. There are numerous references throughout the book, including the title, of the moral ambiguity, discovery, and tension between "civilized" nations and "primitive" ones and, more importantly, applying this idea allegorically to an individual's internal struggle with his/her own individuality and moral compass.

On the negative side, this book is often over-analyzed to incomprehensibility as eager students and teachers find dubious meanings in admittedly confusing areas. I tend to chalk this up to unfortunate paragraph structure and disappointing anticlimaxes such as Marlow's visits with Kurtz.

Regardless, Conrad wrote a fine tale with historical relevance and personal insight. The trip up the river is especially brilliant. However, do not expect an action packed tale of heroes and villains, but rather think about what the "Heart of Darkness" means.

4/5

A testament........2007-08-12

This novel is a testament to the fact that Joseph Conrad's first language was not english. Easy to comprehend and inordinately difficult to read. It's emphasis on visual clarity means that you spend so much time imaging dark gloomy and oppresive that the story (what little there is) is quickly subsumed by the over descrpitive nature of Conrad's descent into the darkness of the human soul.

Different Price.......2007-08-01

The price on the book says 1.50... The text is too small and it may be better to pay a little more so you don't need a magnifying glass. Rip Off

Average customer rating:

Poorly Written
Another great read from Anya Seton!!
Classic!
Not as good as some of the others..but..
Haunting

Green Darkness
Anya Seton
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1556525761

Book Description

This unforgettable story of undying love combines mysticism, suspense, mystery, and romance into a web of good and evil that stretches from 16th-century England to the present day. Richard Marsdon marries a young American woman named Celia, brings her to live at his English estate, and all seems to be going well. But now Richard has become withdrawn, and Celia is constantly haunted by a vague dread. When she suffers a breakdown and wavers between life and death, a wise doctor realizes that only by forcing Celia to relive her past can he enable her to escape her illness. Celia travels back 400 years in time to her past life as a beautiful but doomed servant. Through her eyes, we see the England of the Tudors, torn by religious strife, and experience all the pageantry, lustiness, and cruelty of the age. As in other historical romance titles by this author, the past comes alive in this flamboyant classic novel.

Customer Reviews:

Poorly Written.......2007-10-05

I was sorely disappointed with this novel. I found it to be extremely droll, stilted, contrived, totally unsuspenseful, and completely dry. The love story was BORING, the lovers interacting twice in the whole escapade, which utterly contradicts the claim of the author of this being a "gripping love story." I was wondering why this did not appear on the New York Times bestseller list if it was so "magnificent", and now I know. I am really surprised to read any reviews here over two or three stars.

Another great read from Anya Seton!!.......2007-08-17

I read Katherine and immediately ordered Green Darkness (after research) to be my next novel from her list. I am a huge fan of the Tudors and enjoyed the time travel. While I do not believe in reincarnation, I did not mind this aspect too much. I loved the romance between Celia and Stephen! I loved her portrayal of King Edward, Queen Mary and Elizabeth, and the Montagu family. I loved this book! While I liked Katherine better, I would recommend this novel and had a hard time putting it down.

Classic!.......2007-07-09

I'm gratified to find Seton undergoing a renaissance! Bravo. This is her at her best. I'm reading it again and being reminded of where my seeds for reading and writing were planted. In Green Deakness. No kidding.
James Conroyd Martin, Author of PUSH NOT THE RIVER Push Not the River and AGAINST A CRIMSON SKY Against a Crimson Sky: A Novel

Not as good as some of the others..but.........2007-06-08

I am a huge fan of Seton's work. I love all of her books. However, this one bored me in some spots. Otherwise, her writing style is still exquisite. Honestly, I think the time travel element turned me off. I that it a little goofy.

Haunting.......2007-05-27

Green Darkness was a haunting book that spanned from Tudor England to the 20th Century. In the first part of the book, we are introduced to Celia and her husband. We quickly discover that there is something in their past life that causes conflict in their current life. In the second part of the book, we are taken back to 16th Century England during the reign of King Edward and we are introduced to another Celia. It's mildly predictable when everyone in Celia's 16th Century life resembles everyone in the first part of the book.

However, the historical narrative is rich in detail as we see the throne change from Edward, to Mary, to Elizabeth, and we encounter all of the religious upheaval in England. The battle of Catholics vs. Protestants is prevalent throughout, but the real conflict lies with Celia and the monk, Brother Stephen. Even though I new the outcome of the tragic 16th Century story, I was surprised at the execution.

The last part of the book, which took us back to 20th Century, was more of a disappointment. It felt rushed, and although Seton wrapped up the past-life plot, it was lacking something. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but was a bit relieved when it was finished.

Agents of Light and Darkness: A Novel of the Nightside

Average customer rating:

a leap forward
Horror x Pulp x Mystery (+ a Travelogue of the Strange)
nightside
Super Reader
Delicious film noir/horror crossover.

Agents of Light and Darkness: A Novel of the Nightside
Simon R. Green
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0441011136
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Book Description

The New York Times bestselling author takes readers back to the Nightside.

A quest for the Unholy Grail-the goblet from which Judas drank at the Last Supper-takes private eye John Taylor deep into the secret, magical heart of London...called the Nightside.

Customer Reviews:

a leap forward.......2007-09-22

I read "Something From the Nightside" a couple of years ago and was underwhelmed. But I thought the premise was good and people whose opinions I respected loved the series, so I thought it was time to give the Nightside another shot. I'm glad I did: "Agents of Light and Darkness" was an improvement in every way. The writing is tighter, the story more interesting, and the use of the term "in the Nightside" is reduced by around 80%. So far, this series feels like a less grim version of Edward Lee's "City Infernal" novels. "Agents of Light and Darkness" is a fun, quick read that doesn't bog the reader down. It's pulp, it gets the job done, and I plan to move on to the other books in the series.

Horror x Pulp x Mystery (+ a Travelogue of the Strange).......2007-09-12

Welcome to the Nightside, where everything macabre and strange not only exists, it thrives. Resident PI John Taylor has a gift for finding things, and in this installment, he's been hired to track down the Unholy Grail (the cup Judas drank from during the last supper). He's not the only one looking, though, and he must find the grail before angels from both sides of the fence destroy the Nightside in their pursuit of it.

I read the first Nightside novel about a year and a half ago, and I mostly thought. . ."eh." It was a short, strange book, and there were some things about it that bothered me. The phrase "in the Nightside" was used way too much, many of the characters had campy and bizarre names (Suzie Shooter, Razor Eddie, etc.), the descriptions were often over-the-top, and John frequently went off on tangents, describing people and past events at random. (I wasn't sure what purpose these detours served, but they often ended with the dreaded phrase "in the Nightside.")

I picked up this second novel on a whim, and for some reason I enjoyed it a lot more than the first. It's still quirky, still over-the-top, the phrase "in the Nightside" is still used quite a bit, and some of the randomly-introduced characters still feel more like window-dressing than fully-realized people. But I'm starting to think that that's the point. The Nightside itself (and all the weird and wonderful things it contains) is as much a main "character" as John is. And as PI Taylor seeks out folks with information on his latest case, he guides the reader on a twisty little trek through London's violent and magical underbelly, throwing out cautionary anecdotes (and occasionally killing his informants) along the way.

Agents of Light and Darkness is a quick and pulpy read. The author mixes campy, gory, tongue-in-cheek oddities into the action of the tale, and he appears to be having a great deal of fun with it all. This time around, I did too. Give the Nightside a chance (or two); see if it sticks. I've definitely decided to pick up more of the books and find out where they lead.

nightside.......2007-08-27

How could I have missed this delightful series? I was so happy to find it. What a prize. It sucks you in from the beginning and makes you want to find all of his books.

Super Reader.......2007-08-26

Green certainly keeps you on your toes in this one. John Taylor is hired to find the cup Judas Iscariot drank out of at the last supper, also known as the Unholy Grail.

Many people are looking for this, including a bunch of angels.

He also comes across the Speaking Gun, which Merlin might just have made to kill angels.

He has a run-in with La Belle Dame Sans Merci, and when confronted by angels and others, calls on Merlin for help. Agents of the Morningstar have no pull with the Son of the Morningstar it seems. "bullies", he calls 'em.

The man known as Jude, a long time Nightside person has an important role to play in more than one myth and legend.

Delicious film noir/horror crossover........2007-07-25

In Agents of Light and Darkness, Green has successfully spliced horror and film noir to create the Nightside, the "sick, secret heart of London," a place where ghosts and demons roam the streets along with humans and immortality can be purchased on the Street of the Gods.

The first true innovation in this series is Green's realization that film noir and horror are mutually compatible genres, and that it's possible to weave the two into a seamless whole and have fun while doing it. You take the hardboiled deadpan narration of the film noir genre and you take as the subject of said narration some wildly fantastic thing (like dead boys and the ghost of Marilyn Monroe), and the result is this sarcastic, you-can't faze-me type attitude that just carries you right through the novel at blinding speed.

Green's second innovation is John Taylor, who in some ways is your typical film noir private eye plus white trench coat and a few magical defenses. What distinguishes him is (1) the fact that he can find anything he wants to find (a magical gift he gets from his mother), and (2) the clever, sarcastic, hard-edged voice Green gives him. To travel with a narrator like Taylor is an absolute delight; his commentary on the events that occur is endlessly amusing and his banter with the other Nightside denizens is never dull.

Agents of Light And Darkness is a fun read. It's quick and it doesn't aspire to philosophical or moral heights despite nominally touching on the issue of religion (the case, this time, involves the Unholy Grail). Having read the other books in the series I am convinced that this one is the best so far.

I should probably also comment that these books can pall after awhile. They seem to be designed so that someone who hasn't read the entire series can just pick up a book and start reading without being too handicapped by not knowing what's happened in the other books, so they repeat themselves a great deal (Green has to re-introduce, for example, not only John Taylor, but other important characters and places which show up in almost every book). Also, John Taylor's wit and wisdom and the novelty of the Nightside carry you only so far through the series; after about three consecutive books it begins to seem like old hat.

My advice would be to not read the Nightside novels consecutively; that way the repetition won't bother you and it'll be like coming back to an old friend instead of hearing the same damn thing introduced again and again.

Average customer rating:

Exposing the Prince of Darkness
Michael Green
Manufacturer: Servant Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Angels | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Each Man in His Darkness (Encounters)
Julien Green
Manufacturer: Texas Bookman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0704300648

Average customer rating:

Green Darkness

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HNCXNW

Average customer rating:

A Norman Conquest, but a Saxon Victory!
Green Saxon Darkness

Green Saxon Darkness
Pamela Cottrel
Manufacturer: Disc-Us Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1584440015

Book Description

The time is 1069. The so-called Norman Conquest has been raging for three years, but the Saxons refuse to surrender. In Green Saxon Darkness, Cottrel tells the tale of the Saxon rebellion, led by Hereward the Wake, the last of the legendary Saxon knights. Intrigue, battles and romance abound as Hereward's cousin Alyce, a grand-daughter of Canute and one of the fiercest of the English rebels, finds herself caught in a dark secret that pitches her head-long into the middle of a love triangle, with the future of her beloved country at stake.

Customer Reviews:

A Norman Conquest, but a Saxon Victory!.......2002-07-18

A superb first novel from Pamela Cottrel! An exciting historical adventure with a colorful cast of characters: Alyce, Hereward the Wake (her cousin), Robert de Arne, Simon Giffard and many others. It is 1069 and many Saxon English such as Alyce are a part of the resistance against the Normans. She fights back quite literally against the Norman invaders. However, her fate is about to change when she finds out that she is the real daughter of the deceased but famous Erica the Wild and her much alive father Earl Walthorp of Rosemeade Castle. Unfortunately, a prearranged marriage to a Norman is in her very near future as well.

Along the way to her marriage and Rosemeade Castle to meet both her betrothed and her father, many perils including trying to escape the marriage occur. After meeting a mysterious and handsome Norman stranger she saves from certain death, she finally arrives at Rosemeade. She becomes involved in a love triangle with her father's stepson Simon Giffard and the Norman Robert de Arne. Also, much intrigue, secrets and murder abound in Alyce's new home. She must eventually make a choice between the two men, but her choice is not easily or obviously made.

This book was a wonderful surprise and I'm glad that I ordered and subsequently read it. It made me laugh unexpectantly and really care about the characters. The lead female character is a genuine heroine who will take you on a wild and unpredictable medieval journey.

Green Saxon Darkness.......2000-07-20

I have read many historical fiction and this is one of the best. Green Saxon Darkness grabs you from the opening line to the last page. You are drawn into the story and experience what the characters experience. Herewood the Wake is a hero of epic preportion as is his cousin Alyce who is one of nine women who are doing their part in the rebellion against the Normans. The women do not play second fiddle to the men in this complex first novel by Pamela Cottrel. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy

Darkness in the marketplace: The Christian at prayer in the world

Average customer rating:

Darkness in the marketplace: The Christian at prayer in the world
Thomas H Green
Manufacturer: Ave Maria Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0877932298

Average customer rating:

Green Darkness

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HMY25U

Average customer rating:

A Book With Eye Opening Reality
tough read at times
A good read for everyone!

Horn of Darkness: Rhinos on the Edge
Carol Cunningham , and Joel Berger
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Endangered Species | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Wildlife | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Environmentalism | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Amazon.com

"Black rhinos," write husband and wife eco-advocate team Carol Cunningham and Joel Berger, "are one of the most critically endangered species in Africa." Where perhaps 100,000 of the shy, lumbering creatures existed at the beginning of the 20th century, there may be only 2,500 today. Tracing the natural history of the rhino, Cunningham and Berger offer a firsthand account of the way these creatures live in the wild. They also look searchingly into the prospects for the rhinos' preservation, which is enjoying mixed success in places like Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia. To stop the slaughter, the authors write, intensive international efforts--and funding--are needed. Horn of Darkness presents a powerful argument for why such efforts should be made, and immediately.

Book Description

The black rhino is nature's tank, feared by all animals. Even lions will break off a hunt to detour around one. And yet the black rhino is on the edge of extinction, its numbers dwindling from 100,000 at the turn of the century, to less than 2,500 today. The reason is that in places like Yemen, China, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, the rhino's horn is more valuable than gold, so valuable that people will risk their lives to harvest it. To deter rhino poachers, African governments have spent millions--on helicopters, paramilitary operations, fences and guard dogs, even relocation to protected areas. Finally, Namibia decided to de-horn its rhino population, in a last ditch effort to stop the slaughter. In 1991, Carol Cunningham and Joel Berger, and their eighteen-month-old daughter Sonja, went to Namibia to weigh the effects of de-horning on rhinos. In Horn of Darkness, they tell the story of three years in the Namib Desert, studying Africa's last sizable population of free-roaming black rhinos. This is the closest most readers will come to experiencing life in the remaining wilds of Africa. Cunningham and Berger, writing nate chapters, capture what it is like to leave the comforts of civilization, to camp for months at a time in a land filled with deadly predators, to study an animal that is reclusive, unpredictable, and highly dangerous. The authors describe staking out water holes in the dead of the night, creeping to within twenty-seven meters of rhinos to photograph them, all the while keeping a lookout for hyenas, elephants, and lions. They recount many heart-pounding escapes--one rhino forces Carol Cunningham up a tree, an unseen lion in hot pursuit of hyenas races right past a frozen Joel Berger--and capture the adrenaline rush of inching closer to a rhino that might flee--or charge--at any moment. They also give readers a clear sense of the careful, patient work involved in studying animals, the frustration of long days without finding rhinos or seeing other people, coping with heat and thirst (the Namib desert is one of the driest on Earth), with dirt and insects, driving hundreds of kilometers in a Land Rover packed to capacity, slowing amassing records on one hundred individual rhinos over the course of several years. And perhaps most important, the authors reveal that the data they collected suggests that the de-horning project might backfire--that in the four years after de-horning began, calf survival was down (the evidence suggests that hyenas might be preying on calves and the horn less mothers couldn't defend their offspring). They also describe the dark side of scientific work, from the petty jealousy of other scientists--outside researchers were often seen as ecological imperialists--to the controversy that erupted after the authors published their findings, as furious officials of the Namibian conservation program denounced their findings and through delays and other tactics effectively withheld a permit to allow the couple to continue their study. Weaving together the historical accounts of other naturalists, a vividly detailed look at life in the wild, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse of scientific work and the dark side of the conservation movement, Horn of Darkness is destined to be a classic work on the natural world.

Customer Reviews:

A Book With Eye Opening Reality.......2004-11-15

Horn of Darkness tells the story of a family of three commencing on a quest to de-horn 10 rhinos. Discovering complications and adapting to the surroundings is just one of the many challenges Joel, Carol and young Sonja have to face. For me (being an 11 year old doing a reserch project) it was perfect for references and surprisingly it had a wonferfully enjoyable story. I thought it covered what I needed to know and at the same time I experienced first hand the wonders of the rhino as well as the realities of poaching problems. Not all adults will enjoy this book as much as I but if you give it a chance and open your mind you will enjoy what it has to offer. I suggest this book for ages 11 (curious 11 year olds)-and up.

tough read at times.......2003-01-07

a good book for the wildlife enthusiast, but kinda boring at times. Not every day in real life can be as exciting as a Hollywood movie so this is accurate representation of what it must be like, but it takes a real passion for the animal kingdom to read it. It has been a couple of years since I read it so it isn't very fresh in my mind, but I did enjoy parts of it very much.

A good read for everyone!.......2000-06-18

Carol Cunningham and Joel Berger, a husband and wife research team, describe their research on black rhinos in Namibia. It is very readable, telling their personal story, documenting their research, explaining African perspectives, and discussing the politics involved with their project. This book reads like a novel while dispensing eye-opening information.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books